NATIONAL PLATFORM IN LITHUANIA “VILLAGE TO YOUR HOME”
About this good practice
Creation of the two-sided network of consumers and farmers in Lithuania was stimulated by the increased demand of local food produced by farmers on their farms. The numbers of Lithuanian people are no longer satisfied with making yes or no decisions on what food processing enterprises offer.
The idea to encourage cooperation of farmers and consumers, using an innovative interactive communication platform for the creation of network, was initiated by researchers of the Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics.
The main goal of the two-sided network platform was an essential change of the character of the relationships between producers and users of their products. Instead the relationship seller-buyer the network members should seek to interact as service providers-customers. The experience of the researchers of the Institute has shown that success of the cooperation with the farmers depends on the ability to organize a food basket of sufficient size for farmer and in this way to reduce the product transportation costs per unit.
Main stakeholders and beneficiaries of the practice: producers (farmers) and consumers. The target group of producers includes small farmers, who work towards producing high quality and tasty food. The target group of the consumers embraces urban citizens who appreciate and look for high quality and tasty food.
Resources needed
Project budget 57.000 EUR. Duration of the project 2 years. 17 % - administration, 44 % - programming, 39 % - marketing (events for farmers how to join this platform, how to work in this platform, etc.). In total 10 persons were working for the project. Currently expenditures: updating costs.
Evidence of success
High participation of farmers and consumers in the platform. In 2016 - 200 producers (farmers) as members of this platform. In the beginning of 2019 - 329 producers (farmers), increase by 40 %. Groups of consumers includes mostly urban citizens, amounting to 796 in 2019. Comparing to 2016, number increased by 47 % (420 in 2016).
Platform helped to introduce and apply principles of short supply chain in Lithuania. Every week a number of purchases are initiated by various consumer groups.
Potential for learning or transfer
A similar two-sided network of farmers and consumers can be easily created and used in other countries that can help to introduce principles of short supply chain in their countries between producers (farmers) and consumers (consumer groups). If concept of short supply chain is one of the task in recent policy agenda in the country, initiation and implementation of similar practice can give results for improvement of public policy related with functions of Ministries of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and others.
Initial tasks for start of the work: 1) decision who should be responsible for organisation of creation this platform; 2) searching for financial mechanism; 3) initiation and implementation of the project for creation of the platform.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics